With over 20 years of experience covering the Steelers for the Observer-Reporter, Dale Lolley will let you know the insider scoop. Dale can also be heard on the Steelers radio network pre-game show on WDVE-FM game days and Tuesday nights from 6 to 8 p.m. on ESPN 970-AM during the season as a host of the Antonio Brown Show. Follow him on Twitter at @dlolleyor

Monday, May 30, 2011

In an effort to get his uncensored thoughts out and about the NFL safety rules changes and other issues that he can't fit into a tweet, James Harrison started his own blog, http://jharrison9292.wordpress.com

Here's a part of his first post regarding the NFL's attempt to crack down on helmet-to-helmet hits.

“I understand the intent behind making the rules, but in their attempt to make the game safer, they are actually clouding what is allowable,” Harrison recently said on his personal blog. “Even the referees are confused. A close look will show you that the referees were calling things that were not even supposed to be called, and NOT calling things that were actually illegal.”

I can think of several instances last season where Harrison was completely correct. How about Ryan Clark's hit in New Orleans for one?

Clark was penalized for what was supposedly a helmet-to-helmet hit. But upon further review, he clearly just hit a receiver in the back after he had caught the ball.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

I had to break down and watch Dancing With the Stars. Luckily - or unluckily - my wife had all the episodes on the DVR, so I could keep track of what Hines Ward was doing on the show without actually having to watch the whole bloody thing.

Ward obviously showed that he is a great athlete to be able to pull off many of the moves he did throughout the season. He also got quite a bit of support from his teammates and former teammates - and Steelers nation.

It will be interesting to see how his DWS win changes things for Ward. He's always been a guy opposing fans love to hate.

He's also become something more of a household name because of the show.

I've always found Ward to be a genuine guy who's played with a chip on his shoulder because he's never been the biggest, fastest or most talented player on the field.

Sunday, May 01, 2011

The smoke has cleared and the dust has settled on the 2011 NFL draft. Here's a look at some of the Steelers' winners and losers coming out of the draft:

WinnersIke Taylor - Cha-ching. A first-round cornerback would have at least tempered Pittsburgh's need to bring back their top corner at all costs. As it stands - with just third- and fourth-round prospects added – the Steelers must assure that Taylor comes back at all costs.

Limas Sweed - With no young receiver added, Sweed will be given every chance to prove that he's finally got his act together after missing last season with an Achilles' tendon injury. The talent is there for the former second-round pick.

Matt Spaeth - The Steelers would have liked to have added another tight end in the draft, but the opportunity never presented itself. Spaeth likely gets at least one more year.

Shaun Suisham - The Steelers could have selected a young placekicker to challenge Suisham, but did not.

William Gay, Keenan Lewis – The addition of two young corners means Gay, a free agent, likely won't be back. Lewis has really fallen out of favor and might be on his last legs.

Jonathan Dwyer - The one thing seveth-round running back Baron Batch does really, really well is catch the ball out of the backfield. Dwyer does not. With Isaac Redman establishing himself as Rashard Mendenhall's top backup, the Steelers will be looking to keep a back who does something the other two do not.

Nick Eason - Eason has been a solid, steady reserve for some time now, but with two first-round defensive ends added in the past three years, finding a roster spot for Eason might be difficult. Not impossible, but difficult.